EDGECOMB, MAINE/November 4, 2012 – Teens To Trails (or “T3″) is working to engage Maine teens in the outdoors through their promotion of & support for teen Outing Clubs across the State. Each fall, T3 awards small grants to new and established high school Outing Club programs to help cover transportation, needed gear & other costs to ensure that ALL students have access to year-round outdoor experiences. Since the inception of the Grants-to-Clubs program in 2008, T3 has awarded over 50 grants. Through the generosity of the Davis Conservation Foundation, T3 is offering grants again this fall.

Teens To Trails has kept the grant application process simple and encourages all Maine high schools to apply. Applications are due by midnight December 1st. Online application guidelines are available on the Teens To Trails website at www.teenstotrails.org/grants-clubs-program. Grants are awarded up to $500.

A growing body of research directly links the absence of nature in the lives of young people to some of the most disturbing childhood trends: the rise in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. This research indicates that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for our physical and emotional health. More time spent out-of-doors translates directly into healthier happier teens which, in turn, will produce the next generation of caring environmental stewards for Maine’s precious natural resources.

To read more about Teens To Trails’ goal to develop an Outing Club program in every Maine high school and find links to research that confirms the human need for outdoor experiences, go to the T3 website – www.TeensToTrails.org/nature-deficit-disorder.

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About TEENS TO TRAILS

Teens To Trails is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization working to engage Maine teens in the outdoors through their promotion of & support for high school Outing Clubs. T3’s goal is to spread access to Outing Clubs across the State. For information on Teens To Trails and the importance of teen Outing Clubs, visit www.TeensToTrails.org.

About the Davis Conservation Foundation

The Davis Conservation Foundation provides grants to charitable organizations primarily in northern New England in support of the wise utilization, protection and advancement of our environment. Learn more @ www.davisfoundations.org.